, Petitions Committee
Introductions, apologies, substitutions and declarations of interest
The meeting is being broadcast live on Senedd.tv and the Record of Proceedings will be published as usual.
, Petitions Committee
Introductions, apologies, substitutions and declarations of interest
Good afternoon and a very warm welcome to today's meeting of the Petitions Committee.
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
General scrutiny session with the Welsh Government - Education
Thank you.
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
General scrutiny session with the Welsh Government - Education
Can I ask a question that you can do a written response to as well? It really bothers me. So, we've got older people who might have been out of work, they want to go back into work, or they've gone down one career path but want to change. But how can they…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
General scrutiny session with the Welsh Government - Education
Okay. Welsh Government often says that we have the most generous support package in Wales. We've got education maintenance allowance and all that. However, you recently stated that Welsh Government's modelling shows that it can no longer afford to increase…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
General scrutiny session with the Welsh Government - Education
Okay. Thank you. Shall I just ask the other questions?
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
General scrutiny session with the Welsh Government - Education
Okay. The fee limits have risen for three academic years in a row now. Is it due to the financial challenges facing universities? And to what extent is the decision to increase the fee to provide additional funding for institutions balanced against the…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
General scrutiny session with the Welsh Government - Education
Just regarding student tuition fees?
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
General scrutiny session with the Welsh Government - Education
Can I just ask, as you answered my two questions, a supplementary? When we visit schools, we know how important it is to have good teaching assistants as well, to help with that support and nurturing, and to help take pressure off teachers as well. It's so…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
General scrutiny session with the Welsh Government - Education
Regarding health as well, we've raised it in the Senedd, we've had a short debate on Tourette's, haven't we, for example? Tourette's affects one in 100 people, and there's no clear pathway at the moment for diagnostic treatment. Also, it was raised about…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
General scrutiny session with the Welsh Government - Education
You covered both questions. [Laughter.] I remember that we received a petition saying, 'Please don't define ALN as universal provision', or making sure. I think that parents, as well as teachers, want the guidance on the interpretation and application of key…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
General scrutiny session with the Welsh Government - Education
Thank you, Chair. I've got some questions about ALN reforms. Can you provide an update on progress since you announced five key areas of action in October? It was in response to the review you instigated of the implementation of the new additional learning…
, Plenary
Plaid Cymru Debate: Health board governance
Yes, please. I haven't checked the record fully, but I believe the Member referred to a seat that was lost in Leeswood that I previously held. I did not hold that seat before; I was a councillor for Treuddyn. I don't know what that has to do with the debate…
, Plenary
Plaid Cymru Debate: Health board governance
I am pleased that we have just passed a Welsh Labour budget that invests in our front-line services in local government and in health. The increased NHS funding delivered by the 1997-2010 Labour Government, through the NHS plan, alongside the success of the…
, Plenary
Debate on the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee Report, 'Digging the dirt: Improving Wales’ soil health'
I welcome the report and the work of the committee. Thank you, Chair. Healthy soil is not just dirt beneath our feet, it's a living ecosystem. It regulates water flows, sustains plant and animal life, sequesters carbon and filters pollutants. When soil is…
, Plenary
Debate on the Children, Young People and Education Committee Report, 'Routes into post-16 education and training'
I'd just like to start by paying tribute to our friend and colleague Hefin David, and his report, ‘Transitions to employment’. I’d also like to thank the Chair, Members, the committee team, the organisations, parents, guardians and young people who gave…
, Plenary
Questions to the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs
I'd like to thank Delyth Jewell for raising this question. I hosted an event in the Senedd with Michael Sheen last week, which looked at the issue of contaminated land. It will feature in a two-part documentary called Buried. I also attended a Friends of the…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language
On Monday evening I had the pleasure of meeting with Prestatyn business owners who are the backbone of our local communities and economy. It was an important opportunity to listen to their experiences, understand the pressures they are facing, and discuss the…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Annual scrutiny of Transport for Wales
Can you update us on the delivery of the north Wales metro? We've heard about the core Valleys lines. We want to see investment in north Wales as well. What level of investment is flowing into that scheme, and can you outline key dates for delivery?
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Annual scrutiny of Transport for Wales
That makes sense.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Annual scrutiny of Transport for Wales
Yes, okay—it was asset transfer and fleet ownership. So, in Manchester, everything was transferred. But do you think that there will be a hybrid approach, so that some of the assets can remain with the local SMEs, maybe?
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Annual scrutiny of Transport for Wales
The other one was—
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Annual scrutiny of Transport for Wales
Will you have a unit to assist them, going forward?
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Annual scrutiny of Transport for Wales
That's reassuring, because we want to manage people's expectations with this as well. And it feels like you considering that going forward, which is really important, and that accountability, because very often we get a lot of book passing as well. So, people…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Annual scrutiny of Transport for Wales
Thank you. My second question was about funding. I feel a little bit reassured that you're hoping to do it in the existing budget. During the budget scrutiny, the Cabinet Secretary said perhaps the greatest threat to bus services is having enough money. I…
